Juniperus.] LXXIV. CONIFEKJE. 417 



II. JUNIPERUS. JUNIPER. 



Shrubs or small trees, with evergreen leaves, either small and scale- 

 like, or spreading, stiff, and pointed, or both kinds on the same shrub. 

 Flowers usually dioecious, in minute axillary catkins ; the males con- 

 sisting of broad, shield-shaped scales, with 3 to 6 anther-cells attached 

 to their lower edge, the females with imbricated, empty scales at the 

 base, and 3 to 6 fleshy ones at the top, coalescing into one, and 

 enclosing as many ovules, with their foramen or open pore turned 

 upwards. Fruit a small berry, formed by the succulent scales, enclos- 

 ing 1 or 2 hard seeds. 



A numerous genus, almost as widely spread as the Pines. 



1. J. communis, Linn. (fig. 937). Common J. — A much branched, 

 evergreen shrub, sometimes procumbent, sometimes ascending or erect, 

 2 to 5, or even 20 feet high. Leaves in whorls of 3, linear, spreading, 

 ending in a prickly point, not above 6 lines long, of a bright green 

 underneath, glaucous and concave above. Catkins scarcely above 

 a line long. Berries globular, of a dark purple blue, the size of a 

 large pea. 



On rather dry, barren hills, in Europe, from the Mediterranean to 

 the Arctic regions, and in northern Asia and America. Dispersed over 

 the British Isles, but more common in the north than in the south. FL 

 spring, A dwarf variety, occurring on the mountains of North Wales, 

 Westmoreland, and in Scotland, with rather shorter, less prickly leaves, 

 is the J. nana, Willd. 



The cultivated species include, amongst others, the American red or 

 pencil Cedar (J. virginiana, Linn.), and the south European Savin (J. 

 Sabina, Linn.). 



III. TAXUS. YEW. 



Trees or shrubs, with evergreen linear leaves. Flowers mostly 

 dioecious. Catkins small, with empty, imbricated scales at the base ; 

 the males terminating in a cluster of stamens, each consisting of 3 to 

 8 anther-cells, within a shield-like scale or connectivum ; the females 

 of a single erect ovule, with a small cup-shaped disk round its base. 

 Fruit a hard seed, partly imbedded in a pulpy, berry-like cup. 



A small genus, extending all round the northern hemisphere. 



1. T. baccata, Linn. (fig. 938). Common Yew.— A densely branched, 

 dark, evergreen tree, not lofty, but attaining a great age, with a thick 

 trunk and hard wood. Leaves 6 to 9 lines long, inserted all round the 

 branches, but spreading in one plane in 2 opposite ranks, convex and 

 shining on the upper side. Catkins very small, in the axils of the leaves. 

 Fruits, though small, conspicuous by their bright red, half -transparent, 

 ■juicy cups. 



Dispersed over Europe, north and central Asia, and North America. 

 Common in Britain, having been much planted in early times ; indigenous 

 in hilly districts in England, southern Scotland, and northern Ireland. 

 Fl. spiking. The Irish or Florence- Court Yew {T.fastigiata), a shrub with 

 erect branches, is a garden variety of T. baccata. 



2 D 



